Violin based PolyCaRe arrangements in 198x – interludes (part 2)

We will continue the 1980s journey on PolyCaRe arrangements of Raja, with his compositions based on violins as the background melody instrument. In this post, we will continue to focus on his interlude compositions in the 198x. As we made it very clear in the definition, the PolyCaRe arrangement not only requires a background violin melody, it also requires at least two call and response melodies in the foreground played according to our rules of CaRe arrangements.

Let’s begin with the song ‘Kanmani Nee Vara’  from Thendrale Ennai Thodu (Tamil 1985). This segment, has violins as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song	Film	Year	Background instrument	CaRe - Instrument1	CaRe - Instrument2
Kanmani Nee Vara	Thendrale Ennai Thodu	1985	Violins	Violins	Guitar

1. The clip is a 12 second clip from the interlude. To begin with, you will hear the background violins playing a melody that continues throughout the clip. Ignore the synthesizer bit played till about 3 seconds as that has nothing to do with PolyCaRe 
2. The foreground violins start playing a melody for which the guitar responds with its melody between 3 and 12 seconds. The melody played by the violins is not identical, as there is a bit of improvisation between the first and the second violin as well as the guitar melody

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background violin melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 4 foreground melodies playing on top of the constant background violin melody in these 12 seconds.

Let’s hear the PolyCaRe arrangement in the interlude of Kanmani Nee Vara …

Let’s next analyze the song ‘Manjal Veyyil’  from Nandu  (Tamil 1983). We covered this song’s interludes in detail in the ‘Fine Fuge Fete’ post. Some harmony parts of this song are arranged as a PolyCaRe. This segment, has violins as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song	Film	Year	Background instrument	CaRe - Instrument1	CaRe - Instrument2
Manjal Veyyil	Nandu	1981	Violins	Violins	Violins

1. The clip is a 10 second clip from the interlude. The background melody is a simple high pitch set of violins
2. The foreground violins start playing a melody for which the set of violins respond in the lower register with its melody between thrice. The melody played by the violins is not identical, as there is a bit of improvisation between the first and the second violin part as required for fugue, where a pitch variation is required. Nevertheless, this qualifies as a PolyCaRe as well

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background violin melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 6 foreground melodies 

playing on top of the constant background violin melody in these 10 seconds.

Let’s hear the PolyCaRe arrangement in the interlude of fugue composition Manjal Veyyil …

Let’s next analyze the song ‘Nilavondru kandaen’ from Kairaasi Karaen  (Tamil 1982). Some harmony parts of this song are arranged as a PolyCaRe. This segment, has violins as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song	Film	Year	Background instrument	CaRe - Instrument1	CaRe - Instrument2
Nilavondru kandaen	Kairaasi karaen	1982	Violins	Synthesizer	Violins

1. The clip is 18 seconds long and has the rapid background violins playing a repetitive melody throughout the 18 seconds. This is Raja’s experiment with illusory notes that appear climbing though in reality they are not
2. The foreground violins play a melody for which the synthesizer responds with its own melody. This CaRe arrangement happens twice within these 18 seconds, during which time, the background violins continue

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background violin melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 4 foreground melodies playing on top of the constant background violin melody in these 18 seconds.

Let’s hear the PolyCaRe arrangement in the interlude of Nilavondru kandaen …

Let’s next analyze the song ‘Paatu thalaivan’ from Idhaya Kovil (Tamil 1985). Some harmony parts of this song are arranged as a PolyCaRe. This segment, has violins as its background instrument. Here is how the segment is structured:

Song	Film	Year	Background instrument	CaRe - Instrument1	CaRe - Instrument2
Paatu thalaivan	Idhaya Kovil	1985	Violins	Violins	Synthesizer

1. The clip is 10 seconds long and has the rapid background violins playing a repetitive melody throughout the 10 seconds 
2. The foreground violins play a melody from 2 seconds onwards, for which the synthesizer responds with its own melody. This CaRe arrangement happens thrice within these 10 seconds, during which time, the background violins continue

The foreground melodies can stand on their own feet as simple CaRe arrangement. The background violin melody makes them polyphonic and hence PolyCaRe. There are 6 foreground melodies playing on top of the constant background violin melody in these 10 seconds.

Let’s hear the PolyCaRe arrangement in the interlude of Paatu thalaivan …

Raja’s 80s harmonies were very rich and he weaved many variations into it. While most listeners relate to the song’s main melody, the interludes were way ahead of its time and clearly demonstrate the hand of the master.